For ever with the Lord!

1.

For ever with the Lord!

Amen; so let it be:

Life from the dead is in that word,

’Tis immortality.

Here in the body pent,

Absent from Him I roam,

Yet nightly pitch my moving tent

A day’s march nearer home.

2.

My Father’s house on high,

Home of my soul, how near,

At times, to faith’s foreseeing eye,

Thy golden gates appear!

Ah! Then my spirit faints.

To reach the land I love,

The bright inheritance of saints,

Jerusalem above.

3.

Yet clouds will intervene

And all my prospect flies

Like Noah’s dove I flit between

Rough seas and stormy skies

Anon the clouds depart

The winds and waters cease

While sweetly o’er my gladden’d heart

Expands the bow of peace.

4.

I hear at morn and ev’n

At noon and midnight hour

The choral harmonies of heav’n

Earth’s babel – tongues o’erpow’r

That resurrection Word,

That shout of victory;

Once more, For ever with the Lord

Amen; so let it be.